Tag Archives: trials

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Psalm 107

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We need God. Without Him we are a mess. Even with Him we can go down that slippery slope from time to time. When that happens, all we need to do is call out to Him. He is faithful to save. Sometimes we think we have tried His patience and we listen to the lies of the enemy. Satan tries to tell us that God won’t be there for us. That God is angry with us. One of the most common lies is that we got ourselves into the mess, what makes us think God will get us out?

God’s chosen people were messed up. They cried out to Him and He saved them. Then, surprise, surprise, they mess up again (and again, and again-get the picture?). Every time He patiently comes through for them. He’s a parent. Isn’t that what we do with our little ones? We set boundaries, they go past them, we administer a consequence, tell them we forgive them and love them, and they do it again the next day. We don’t give up, because we love them and have great expectations for their future. One of those expectations is that they will learn from their mistakes. That those times where they lose control, or act in rebellion will come fewer and farther between.

God has those same expectations for us!

Let’s take a look at Psalm 107. These verses clearly show our Father’s patience and love towards us.

Psalm 107:1-42 (AMP), “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary, And gathered them out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the [Red] Sea in the south. Some wandered in the wilderness in a solitary desert track; they found no city for habitation. Hungry and thirsty, they fainted; their lives were near to being extinguished. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. He led them forth by the straight and right way, that they might go to a city where they could establish their homes. Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good. Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and in irons, Because they had rebelled against the words of God and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He bowed down their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled and fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke apart the bonds that held them. Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron apart. Some are fools [made ill] because of the way of their transgressions and are afflicted because of their iniquities. They loathe every kind of food, and they draw near to the gates of death. Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivers them out of their distresses. He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction. Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and rehearse His deeds with shouts of joy and singing! Some go down to the sea and travel over it in ships to do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises up the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. [Those aboard] mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the deeps; their courage melts away because of their plight. They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wits’ end [all their wisdom has come to nothing]. Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still. Then the men are glad because of the calm, and He brings them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people and praise Him in the company of the elders. He turns rivers into a wilderness, water springs into a thirsty ground, A fruitful land into a barren, salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He turns a wilderness into a pool of water and a dry ground into water springs; And there He makes the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation, And sow fields, and plant vineyards which yield fruits of increase. He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly, and allows not their cattle to decrease. When they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow, He pours contempt upon princes and causes them to wander in waste places where there is no road. Yet He raises the poor and needy from affliction and makes their families like a flock. The upright shall see it and be glad, but all iniquity shall shut its mouth.”

Does any of that sound familiar? Some wandered around alone and confused, hungry and thirsty. Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, because of their own rebellion. Others are fools and were made sick due to their own stupidity and bad choices. There are those that are on that roller coaster ride from Hell, ups and downs and at their witts end. Then there are the ones who are burdened with heavy oppression, trouble, and sorrow. Does it say that God leaves them there in their mess? No. He saves, delivers, and heals. He makes those desert places like garden. He calms those storms and allows us to be stable and at peace. God brings us out of darkness into the light of His Son. “Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works.”

The last verse in Psalm 107 says, “Whoso is wise [if there be any truly wise] will observe and heed these things; and they will diligently consider the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord.”

I want to be wise, don’t you?

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Book Review for “Me and Georgette”- Regency Fiction

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What a fun read! I like Regency Romance and this one was not your typical storyline. A modern, 21st century Jewish career woman is thrown into the past. What a mixed up event. If you like Regency, you’ll love it. I give it 4 stars. I really liked it. I was given a copy of this book, by Story Cartel, in exchange for an honest review. I can recommend this to everyone. No sexual content and no swearing.

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Never Forget, Always Trust

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Psalms 106:8-14 (AMP), “Our fathers in Egypt understood not nor appreciated Your miracles; they did not [earnestly] remember the multitude of Your mercies nor imprint Your loving-kindness [on their hearts], but they were rebellious and provoked the Lord at the sea, even at the Red Sea. Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake [to prove the righteousness of the divine character], that He might make His mighty power known. He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up; so He led them through the depths as through a pastureland. And He saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the [Egyptian] enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. Then [Israel] believed His words [trusting in, relying on them]; they sang His praise. But they hastily forgot His works; they did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted and tried to restrain God [with their insistent desires] in the desert.”

David admits that his forefathers had a problem with forgetfulness. They forgot that God is a merciful God, that he is a loving Father, kind and fiercely protective. Yet God still saved them, so that others could see His power. God performed many wonderful things in the sight of those rebellious children, who tramped years longer than necessary, through the wilderness. But those children “hastily forgot His works.” They quickly lusted for what they didn’t have instead of being grateful for what they did.

They also had some trust issues. God in his patience would deliver them, and they would sing His praise and seemingly put their trust in Him, only to “restrain Him with their insistent desires”. They hindered the work He wanted to do for them. They hindered and fought against the plan He had laid. They wanted what they wanted instead of accepting what they needed from the One who knew the beginning from the end. These stiff-necked children tried to live according to the world’s system instead of listening and obeying God.

Psalms 106:34-39 (AMP), “They did not destroy the [heathen] nations as the Lord commanded them, But mingled themselves with the [idolatrous] nations and learned their ways and works and served their idols, which were a snare to them. Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with their blood. Thus were they defiled by their own works, and they played the harlot and practiced idolatry with their own deeds [of idolatrous rites].”

Now, before we get to judgmental, let’s take a look at our own lives. Do we really trust Him, let’s be honest, or do we try to “figure things out” on our own? Do we remember all He has already brought us through, or do we listen to the news, the doctor’s report, or look at that balance in our checking account? Are we thankful for where He is leading us and expecting to come out into a blessing, or are we looking back at the past thinking how much more fun things were, or what we think we are missing out on? Do we desire to live Godly, or do we look at the seeming ease of the world and whish that we could have things so “easy?” God hasn’t changed. The same desires that He had for those who were slaves in Egypt, are the exact ones He has for us. He wants us blessed, and He wants us to be a blessing!

We can only do that if we “lean not on our own understanding.” We know Him, know His plans for us, listen and obey. I know it sounds too simple, but really it is. We are the ones who make it hard. How can we ever lead anyone to Christ, build the Kingdom, if we are full of doubt and unbelief? If we can’t remember all the wonderful things He has done for us, how are we going to share our testimony? Do we share more problems than God’s providence? Are we steeped in worry and anxiety? That’s not how it should be! If we live the way those escaped slaves lived, with a slave mentality, we will never be who God has ordained us to be. He has set us free! We are no longer slaves, we are sons.

Trust Him. He is trustworthy. Period.

And NEVER forget His love for you. Ever.

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Book Reviews for “Divergent”, “Insurgent”, and “Allegiant”- YA Dystopian Fiction

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Divergent-
One of my new favorites! I so love this book. I know I will read it again. Dystopian at it’s finest. Easy writing style. Well rounded characters!! Flawed and real. There is violence, but no swearing or sexual content. Set in a futuristic society where people have been grouped by their character traits. I’d give it 6 stars if I could. That good. On to book two.

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Insurgent-
At first I thought this one wasn’t as good as book one, but as I got farther along in the story, it was just as good! A great dystopian book set in Chicago. Society is set in “Factions” that dictate pretty much everything in your life. This story is about those who don’t fit the mold. More plot twists in this one. Looking forward to starting the final book. One of my new favorite authors. I give it 5 stars. No swearing and no sexual content. Just good drama and action, with some romance (the non-sappy kind) thrown in. Great read!

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Allegiant-I finished the last book of the “Divergent” series! I loved this series. It was all about loyalty, sacrifice, love and human nature, the good and the bad. Veronica Roth is now one of my favorite authors and I will be looking for more from this author. I can recommend this book for High School age and up. No swearing, or sexual content, there is violence. I give it a solid 5 stars! (These books have to be read in sequence.)

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Under Construction

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So I always knew I was slightly technologically challenged, but I found out for sure when I tried to change my website to a new host! Thankfully several young helpers were able to talk me through parts and at some points just do the work for me. It was humbling.

Isn’t that the way it is?

First we have to admit that there is something better out there for us. Then we have to acknowledge that we can’t do it on our own, possibly don’t even know where to start. Finally, we surrender our pride and say, “HELP.”

The final outcome is better!

I John 3:2 (NIV), “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

PS: thanks for being patient while I worked out all the kinks in my website. I do now have my books available here and you can check out securely with paypal.

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Book Review for “Finding Sage”-Dystopian Fiction

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I just loved this book! Great dystopian. Loved the characters, the twists and turns, and the whole outcast of society theme. I am so looking forward to the next in the series. I did get a little confused at the end, and had to slow down and read it again, but it will all come out clearer I am sure in the next book. Good writing and a Goodread! I give it 5 stars. Clean enough for ages 13 and up, it may be hard for some to follow along. No sex and no swearing. I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review
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Choose Your Way

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What looks like the easy way, the way out, the way up, isn’t always the right way. That path strewn with flowers, smooth as a baby’s behind, you know the one that looks sunny and bright, may not be the path that you need to take. In fact most often, in the long run, it isn’t easy at all.

The paths we choose can’t be based on what they look like. We can never rely on our natural senses. The roughest looking road may be exactly the one God would have us walk. I often use the analogy out of the Disney movie “Beauty and the Beast.” There is a place where Bell’s father is faced with two paths. One looks lovely and the other is shrouded in darkness, there is an evil looking mist, and some scary looking trees. The horse is the only one who seems to have any sense, and in our hearts we are screaming “take the sunny path!” However, if we watch the scene through, the path he took was the right path to lead us to our happy ending. It is the same with us. Be led by God, not by our fears, anxiety, or laziness.

So why would God want us to take the road that is less traveled? Is it because He wants us to suffer and fight every step of the way? No. Those pits, road blocks, speed bumps, and glare ice have all been put there by our enemy. He wants to stop us from advancing. That’s how we know we are on the right road. Why would Satan hinder our path to Hell? He hinders our walk to the Abundant Life, the road that leads us into a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. Our enemy doesn’t just try to impede our way, he also tries to distract us from the path. If he can get us to step off of the path, to try an “easier” way, or to completely suck us in by that sunny little path that leads straight to that beautiful oasis. You know, the one that leads to the sunny beach with a life of ease. Don’t be fooled that life is a mirage! All that glitters is not gold!

So why doesn’t God just sweep our paths clear? After all, He is all powerful. Because He knows what is best for us. He sees what’s up ahead. He knows the people we will influence, the trust and strength we will gain. Simply put, He wants us to be led by His Spirit, to learn to trust and rely on Him. In reality, we will never know how many obstacles He has removed! I know that He has protected me so many times. I put myself in some pretty dangerous situations when I wasn’t living for Him, and He brought me through them all. How much more protection do you think I have now that I have committed my way to Him? There are angels guarding around me at all times. I am confident that they have carried me up an over many pits and snares. God knows we need His strength. That’s why Jesus promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Matthew 28:20 (God’s Word Translation), Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. “And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.”

There were many times in my life when I was tempted to “take the easy way.” I went through things that weren’t easy. My teen years were some of the worst. I struggled with self worth, anxiety, and alcohol and drugs. Several times I almost gave into that voice telling me to “end it all.” Though I had left the path God had chosen for me at the time, He still kept me safe. My marriage is another example. We both came into it with issues and at many different times we wanted to “call it quits.” But, we stuck it out. (Granted sometimes in fear or stubbornness, but God turns it all around for our good.) We found some Godly counsel, many times over the years, and finally went through some deliverance. For years we both lived in a messy marriage, but we knew that God’s best for us and our children was to stay together. This summer it will be thirty years since we said our vows. For about the last ten, they have been better than we ever dreamed of! It was all worth it!

Sometimes the way gets rough. We can’t always see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have been known to say, “enough already” and “really?” Those both directed at God. At times in anger, and other times joking with my Father. Thankfully He is patient and forgiving, and He has a sense of humor. Do we always know why we have to walk such a spooky looking path? No. But can we be confident that God is good and He has our back? Yes.

The more we know Him, the more we know His word, the easier this walk gets. Are all the obstacles removed? No, but His word is a light unto our path. We can see them way ahead of time, so we can be built up and strong in the Lord. Whatever you do, keep walking forward. No turning to the left or the right, and for Heaven’s sake, don’t sit down! Never set up camp in a rough spot. Go through! Let His praises be on your lips. Let your heart be full of His joy. That’s where our strength comes from.